letters to his son, 1752-第7章
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are able to answer you。 As； for instance； should I say in French； 'la lettre que je vous ai ECRIT'； or； 'la lettre que je vous ai ECRITE'？ in which； I think； the French differ among themselves。 There is a short French grammar by the Port Royal； and another by Pere Bufiier； both which are worth your reading； as is also a little book called 'Les Synonymes Francois。 There are books of that kind upon the Italian language； into some of which I would advise you to dip； possibly the German language may have something of the same sort； and since you already speak it； the more properly you speak it the better； one would； I think； as far as possible； do all one does correctly and elegantly。 It is extremely engaging to people of every nation； to meet with a foreigner who hath taken pains enough to speak their language correctly； it flatters that local and national pride and prejudice of which everybody hath some share。
Francis's 〃Eugenia；〃 which I will send you； pleased most people of good taste here； the boxes were crowded till the sixth night； when the pit and gallery were totally deserted； and it was dropped。 Distress； without death； was not sufficient to affect a true British audience； so long accustomed to daggers； racks； and bowls of poison： contrary to Horace's rule； they desire to see Medea murder her children upon the stage。 The sentiments were too delicate to move them； and their hearts are to be taken by storm； not by parley。
Have you got the things； which were taken from you at Calais； restored？ and； among them； the little packet which my sister gave you for Sir Charles Hotham？ In this case； have you forwarded it to him？ If you have not had an opportunity； you will have one soon； which I desire you will not omit； it is by Monsieur d'Aillion； whom you will see in a few days at Paris； in his way to Geneva； where Sir Charles now is； and will remain some time。 Adieu：
LETTER CLXII
LONDON； March 5； O。 S。 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： As I have received no letter from you by the usual post； I am uneasy upon account of your health； for； had you been well； I am sure you would have written； according to your engagement and my requisition。 You have not the least notion of any care of your health； but though I would not have you be a valetudinarian； I must tell you that the best and most robust health requires some degree of attention to preserve。 Young fellows； thinking they have so much health and time before them； are very apt to neglect or lavish both； and beggar themselves before they are aware： whereas a prudent economy in both would make them rich indeed； and so far from breaking in upon their pleasures； would improve； and almost perpetuate them。 Be you wiser； and； before it is too late； manage both with care and frugality； and lay out neither； but upon good interest and security。
I will now confine myself to the employment of your time； which； though I have often touched upon formerly； is a subject that； from its importance； will bear repetition。 You have it is true； a great deal of time before you； but； in this period of your life； one hour usefully employed may be worth more than four…and…twenty hereafter； a minute is precious to you now； whole days may possibly not be so forty years hence。 Whatever time you allow； or can snatch for serious reading （I say snatch； because company and the knowledge of the world is now your chief object）； employ it in the reading of some one book； and that a good one； till you have finished it： and do not distract your mind with various matters at the same time。 In this light I would recommend to you to read 'tout de suite' Grotius 'de Jure Belli et Pacis'； translated by Barbeyrac； and Puffendorff's 'Jus Gentium'； translated by the same hand。 For accidental quarters of hours； read works of invention； wit and humor； of the best； and not of trivial authors； either ancient or modern。
Whatever business you have； do it the first moment you can； never by halves； but finish it without interruption； if possible。 Business must not be sauntered and trifled with； and you must not say to it； as Felix did to Paul； 〃At a more convenient season I will speak to thee。〃 The most convenient season for business is the first； but study and business in some measure point out their own times to a man of sense； time is much oftener squandered away in the wrong choice and improper methods of amusement and pleasures。
Many people think that they are in pleasures； provided they are neither in study nor in business。 Nothing like it； they are doing nothing； and might just as well be asleep。 They contract habitudes from laziness； and they） only frequent those places where they are free from all restraints and attentions。 Be upon your guard against this idle profusion of time； and let every place you go to be either the scene of quick and lively pleasures； or the school of your own improvements； let every company you go into either gratify your senses； extend your knowledge； or refine your manners。 Have some decent object of gallantry in view at some places； frequent others； where people of wit and taste assemble； get into others； where people of superior rank and dignity command respect and attention from the rest of the company； but pray frequent no neutral places； from mere idleness and indolence。 Nothing forms a young man so much as being used to keep respectable and superior company； where a constant regard and attention is necessary。 It is true； this is at first a disagreeable state of restraint； but it soon grows habitual； and consequently easy； and you are amply paid for it； by the improvement you make； and the credit it gives you。 What you said some time ago was very true； concerning 'le Palais Royal'； to one of your age the situation is disagreeable enough： you cannot expect to be much taken notice of； but all that time you can take notice of others； observe their manners； decipher their characters； and insensibly you will become one of the company。
All this I went through myself； when I was of your age。 I have sat hours in company without being taken the least notice of； but then I took notice of them； and learned in their company how to behave myself better in the next； till by degrees I became part of the best companies myself。 But I took great care not to lavish away my time in those companies where there were neither quick pleasures nor useful improvements to be expected。
Sloth； indolence； and 'mollesse' are pernicious and unbecoming a young fellow； let them be your 'ressource' forty years hence at soonest。 Determine； at all events； and however disagreeable it may to you in some respects； and for some time； to keep the most distinguished and fashionable company of the place you are at； either for their rank； or for their learning； or 'le bel esprit et le gout'。 This gives you credentials to the best companies； wherever you go afterward。 Pray； therefore； no indolence； no laziness； but employ every minute in your life in active pleasures； or useful employments。 Address yourself to some woman of fashion and beauty； wherever you are； and try how far that will go。 If the place be not secured beforehand； and garrisoned； nine times in ten you will take it。 By attentions and respect you may always get into the highest company： and by some admiration and applause； whether merited or not； you may be sure of being welcome among 'les savans et les beaux esprits'。 There are but these three sorts of company for a young fellow； there being neither pleasure nor profit in any other。
My uneasiness with regard to your health is this moment removed by your letter of the 8th N。 S。； which； by what accident I do not know； I did not receive before。
I long to read Voltaire's 'Rome Sauvee'； which； by the very faults that your SEVERE critics find with it； I am sure I shall like； for I will at an any time give up a good deal of regularity for a great deal of brillant； and for the brillant surely nobody is equal to Voltaire。 Catiline's conspiracy is an unhappy subject for a tragedy； it is too single； and gives no opportunity to the poet to excite any of the tender passions； the whole is one intended act of horror； Crebillon was sensible of this defect； and to create another interest； m
